Machine gun mount



May 3 1949 s. T. FARRELL. ET Al. 2,469,333

- MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Aug. 12,' 1943 I a sheets-sheet 1 May 3,1949-. f s. T. FARRELLI'ET AL 2,469,333

I MCHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Aug. 12, 1943 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 3, 1949 s.T. FARRELL ET AL 21,469,333

MACHINE GUN MOUNT May 3, 1949. s. T. FARRLI. ET AL v 2,469,333

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Aug- 12. A1945 s sheets-sheet 4 May 3, 1949.

S. T. FARRELL ET AL MACHINE. GUN MOUNT 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 12,1943 May 3, 1949.

lS. T. FARRELL ET AL l MACHINE GUN MOUNT 8 Sheets-SheetI 6 Filed Aug,12, 1943 May 3, 1949 s. r'. FARRELL ET AL 2,469,333

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Aug. 12, 1943 8 yShee'bS-Sheet. '7

' Eile/9.15m.

219 Wfw 'May 3, 1949. s. T. FARRELL ET AL MACHINE GUN MOUNT 8Sheets-Sheet 8 F'ile Aug. 12, .194s

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Patented May 3, 1949 MACHINE GUN MOUNT Sydney T. Farrell and FrederickL. Farrell, Belmont, Mass.

Application August 12, 1943, Serial No. 498,300

(Cl. Sil-37) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to machine gun mounts,

and is directed primarily to the object of devising a support or mountfor a machine gun which will relieve the gunner from much of the shockand strain imposed by the rapid recoil of the gun, and which also willreduce the wear and tear on parts of the gun mount itself occasioned bysuch recoil.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a gun mount constructed in accordance withthis invention;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the mount shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical, sectional views taken, respectively, on theline 3-3, Fig. 1, and the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 5-5and 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 7 and 8 are horizontal, sectional views taken, respectively, onthe lines 1-1 and 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 9 and 10 are plan and side views, respectively, of a slightlydifferent form of gun holder;

Fig. l1 is an end view of the holder shown in Figs. 9 and 10 with someparts in section;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View on the line |2--I2, Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a sectional View of a portion of the bearing for theleft-hand end of the inner core section 4 showing additional shockabsorbing members which may be used, if desired, and which usually willbe found preferable;

Fig. 14 is a vertical, sectional view on the line Ill-I4, Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of parts of the construction shown in Fig.13;

Fig. 15a is a cross sectional view further illustrating the structureshown in Figs. 13, 14, and 15;

Fig. 16 is a plan View of an arrangement which may be substituted forthat shown in Fig. l1 to cushion or substantially isolate theintermediate gear through which the elevation of the gun is adjusted;

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a vertical, sectional view on the line I8-I8, Fig. 17; and

Fig. 19 is a partial sectional View at right angles to Fig. 18.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1 to 4, the construction there shown comprisestwov right and left vgun clamping members 2-2 between which the machinegun shown in dotted lines at G in Fig. l may be clamped, it beingunderstood that the na,- ture of the parts that engage and grip the gunmay be mcdied in accordance with the design of the particular gun used.These parts 2-2 are integral with two outer cylindrical sleeve members3-3, which are duplicates, the two being located at the right andleft-hand sides, respectively, of the mount. Each encircles an innercore section 4 of irregular and partly scalloped contour, as best shownin Fig. 4, the external shape of the core member being complemental to,but smaller than, the bore of the outer member, so that a space ofuniform thickness is provided between these parts to receive acontinuous layer of rubber, or other cushioning material, 5. The coresections 4-4 of the two sleeve members 3-3 are integral with and areconnected by an intermediate section 4', Fig. 3, of reduced diameter,and by two collar sections 4" at opposite ends of said reduced section.The shock absorbing material 5, if made of rubber, should besufliciently porous, or have perforations in it, which will give it thedesired cushioning effect. The outer surface of this material may becoated with graphite, or some other dry lubricant compatible with thenature of rubber, so that the 'outer sleeve members 3-3 can have asubstantial degree of adjusting movement lengthwise of the core. Theparts 2--2 integral with these sleeve-like members are connected by abolt 6, Fig. 3, having right and left screw sections threaded into holes'l-lFig. 4, in said clampingmembers, so that by turning these screws theclamping members may be moved toward and from each other to grip orrelease the gun.

The peripheral sections of the sleeve members 3-3 above described arelocated in cylindrical apertures formed tc receive them in opposite sidepieces or pillow blocks 8 8, best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and they havesu'icient clearance to permit the adjustment of them toward and fromeach other, as above described. They are supported between sets of ballbearings Ill-III located at opposite ends of the sleeve membersthemselves. The inner core member 4 has a reduced section or stub shaftB formed integral with, and projecting from, opposite ends of it, andthese two stub shafts are supported in bearings formed in the pillowblocks or trunnions 8 8. One of these stub shafts is clearly shown inthis relationship in Fig. 3. In order to adjust the gun for elevation,the reduced section 4' of the core member is toothed, `as, shown at A,

3 Figs. 2 and 3, to mesh with a pinion I2 which is driven by anotherpinion I3 fast on a shaft I4 that is supported in suitable bearings inthe pillow blocks 3 8, and has a hand wheel l5 secured to its outer end.Consequently, by revolving this hand wheel, the elevation of the gun canbe changed, as desired. It may be locked in any adjusted position bymeans of a brake I6, Fig. 5, arranged to be operated by another handwheel I1, as will be obvious from an inspection of that figure. Duringthe rotary adjustment of the core member 4, the clamp members 2 2 aregiven lat` eral support by small rolls I8 I8, Figs. 2 and 4, which theycarry and which run in arcuate grooves 28, Figs. l and 2, these groovesbeing formed in the inner or adjacent surfaces of the two pillow blockmembers 8 8.

When the gun is not in use, or is to be shipped, it is desirable to lockthe inner member 4 of the supporting bearing roll rigidly againstrotative movement relatively to the pillow blocks, and for this purposeholes are provided in the latter, and in the end portion of a reducedjournal section B, Fig. 3, of the core member, to receive a U-shapedlocking key 2|. The same construction is provided at both endsof` themember 4.

The entire assembly above described is mounted on a supporting casingorbase comprising a body 22 rising from a bed plate 22' and also includingribs or legs 23Y extending laterally from said body section. Thissupport of the upper assembly on said base is accomplished by providingthe twopillow block members 8 8 with bearing pieces 24 24, each integralwith its respective pillow block member. Thetwo sections 24 24 are`connected at the front side of the mount by a strap |24, Fig. 6, wherean opening or clearance Pis provided to permit greater freedom ofadjustment of the gun barrel. These sections 24-24` are also connectedinternally at the back of the mount by a joint 24', Fig. 7, so thattogether they form a. nearly continuous annular bearing member. Thejoint is like that shown at Bl in Fig. 6 connecting the parts 8 8. Thissection composed of the parts 24 is supported in sockets, complementalin vertical cross-sectional form to the member itself, andformed inthehead pieces 23 which are bolted to the tops of the respective flanges orlegsV 23, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In assembling1 these partsthe i respective head pieces are inserted one at a time through thespace P into operative relationship to the bearing pieces 24 and' thenmoved around into the correct relationship to their respective legs 23where they are bolted or riveted in place.

As will be evident fromv an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, much weight isborne by a vertical shaft 21, Figs. 2 and 3, which is rotatablysupported in a wellor socket formed for it in the base 22, the lowerendof the shaft resting on a step bearing 26, Fig. 2.

The upper assembly is guided radially, partly by the shaft 21 but chieyby two sets of roller bearings 25 and 28, Fig. 3, the lower set beinginstalled in an annular recess provided to receive it in the base 22 andcooperating with the inner bearing surfaces of the member 24, while theother is set into a similar recess in the base and cooperates with innerand'outer races 38 and 3l, the former being secured to the base and thelatter to the pillow blocks 8 8.

Training adjustment of the gun mount may be made simply by swingingthe'gun itself, but the parts may be locked against rotative movement ina horizontal plane by means of a stationary circular rack 32 secured tothe base and set into the recess above referred to in the part 22, asshown in Fig. 3. This rack meshes with a pinion 33 fast on the shaft 34with which a brake 35 cooperates, as shown in Fig. 5, the brake beingset or released by operation of the hand wheel 36. There is suiicientclearance or play in this mechanism to enable the operator to revolvethe gun and the support towhich it is rigidly secured with that degreeof freedom necessary for easy operation.

An important feature of this invention resides in the means forsupporting the guns and those parts rigid therewith, in a yieldingmanner so as to reduce the transmission Iof the shock of recoil to theoperator and to cushion that shock itself. Certain means foraccomplishing this object, so far as those parts supporting the gun forelevation adjustment, have been above described. Additional means,roughly similar to that just referred to, are provided to take care oflateral and torsional shock around a vertical axis.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, it will be observed that the shaft 21 has acavity in its upper end just below the cover plate 31, Fig. 3. Thiscavity is of generally circular form but has four lugs F, Fig. 8,integral with the shaft and extending inwardly towardfthe axis of theshaft. Also, this shaft has an extension 38, Fig. 8, projecting upwardlyinto the center of the cavity. The cap 31 has four lugs 4U, Fig. 8,`extending downwardly therefrom into the spaces between thelugs F, andthe space between the lugs and the extension 38 is approximately filledwith a disk 4I of cushion ing material which may be like that indicatedat 5 in Fig. 3. The arms of thisv disk may be made of any suitable shapeand that shape necessarily will depend somewhat on the composition ofthe cushioning material. If made of soft rubber of the nature used inautomobile tires, then they preferably are rather oval-shaped incrosssection, approximately as indicated by the cushioning member shownlin'Fig. 15. Inr any event, these cushioningl elements isolate from eachother the two metal members which they separate while still providingthe mechanical relationship between them necessary to transmit thedesired motion from one to the other.

As shown in Fig. 3, the upper end or head 21 of the shaft 21 is given anexternally and circumferentially stepped formation fitting freely in asocket provided to receive it in the upper end ofthe base 22. Extendingupwardly from opposite sides of' this head portion of the shaft 21, aretwo arms 42- 42geach of which forms the lower section of a yoke thatclosely encircles one of the bearing sleeves 3. Two end sections 42 and42 of one yoke lare indicated in dotted lines at opposite sides of thedevice as viewed in Fig. 1. These yoke ends meet toform the joints 4343. They are bolted together at the joints so that they can be separatedforconvenience in disassembling the parts, and they serve to transmittorque to the 'parts 21' and2'1. Their use is optional. Projectingalmost radiallytoward the axis of the shaft or post 21 arevfour arms44,Fig. '7, two of which are integral with one of the pillow blocks 8 andthe other two being integral with the other block. Their ends rest ontop of the cover 31, asshown in Fig. '7, directly over the lugs 48provided in that cover, and they are secured to it by screws. The weightof these partsis transmitted through these members to the cover andthence through the cushioning material 4I to the vertical shaft 21. Thus.the lateral or torsional vibration for shock created in the gun andtransmitted 'thereby to the parts to which it is rigidly secured, Aarecushioned in their transmission to the stationary support and the post21, thus easing the strain both on the gun, the mount, and the gunner.

In Figs. 9, and l1 a modification is shown of those parts directlyconnected with a gun to support it and also lof some of those memberswhich cooperate with these parts. In these figures parts correspondingto those in the earlier ligures are indicated by the same, but primed,reference characters.

The pillow blocks 88' are made somewhat vdilerent in shape from thoseshown in Figs. 1

and 2, but the same mechanism for training the gun and adjusting theelevation are employed, ex-

cept for the changes hereinafter noted. In this construction the gun isclamped to a long lever lor bar 45 which is connected with the sleeve'That is, the core had radial iins or projections;

the inner surface of the sleeve 46 is of complemental shape; and thespace between these members is iilled with cushioning material 48. Thecore only is secured to the supporting arms 50-50, the outer sleeve ortube 46 not being directly connected with these arms.

A similar construction is used at the opposite side of the assembly,consisting of a tube 5| rigid with the bar 45 and a core separated bycushioning material and secured at its ends to arms 52--52 similar tothe arms 50. Both sets of these arms are secured rigidly to guide pieces53-53, curved about the axis around which the gun is adjusted, theseguides being approximately I-shaped in cross-section, shown'in Fig. 11,and passing through grooves of corresponding shape in the lower portionsof the pillow blocks 8', thus acting as outriggers to afford lateralsupport for the gun, additional to that aorded by the bearing pieces 3and their supporting parts v 4 and 5.

When this mount is used to support a gun having a high degree of recoilas, for example, the fty caliber machine gun, then it will probably befound desirable to isolate the parts to which the gun is directlysecured, both axially of the core 4, as well as radially of it, so thata cushioning or shock absorbing effect will be provided in all threedirections or planes, thus easing the strain on the operator. Aconstruction suitable for so cushioning the left-hand end of the core 4is illustrated in Figs. 13, 14 and l5, 15a, the parts there shown beingindicated by the same numerals used to designate them in Figs. 3 and 4,but the numerals Ibeing double-primed, except the part corresponding tothat shown in the earlier iigures at 4 which, where shown in these lateriigures, is designated at 4a. Here the same radial cushioning meansdesignated at 5" is provided as in Figs. 3 and 4 and, in addition, two

more cushioning members are installed. The

liirst, indicated at 54 in Fig. 13, consists of a rubber diskpreferablyl either corrugated or per- "forated, or both, so as toincrease its shock absorbing capacity, this member being insertedbetween the inner race for the ball bearing and a spider-like member 55which forms one element of another cushioning device better shown inFigs. 14 and 15. The part 55 has three axially extending arms a.projecting toward the right and overlapped with reference to, but spacedapart from, similar arms b integral with another disk-like member 56essentially like the part 55. These arms are so dimensioned as toreceive between them the resilient arms c of a second cushioning member51 which spaces the two members 55 and 56 continuously from each other,both in axial and circumferential directions. The two members 55 and 56are mounted on the extension B of the core 4a, the former being keyed tothis member while the latter is held against rotation relatively to thepart 3" by means of a pin- 56. The cushion members 5, 56 and 51 thusfunction advantageously in conjunction with one another and incooperating relation with respect t'o the cushion 4|', as may be morereadily observed vfrom an inspection of Fig. 15a.. As shown in thelatter gure, the core 4a, is, as before, isolated from sleeve 3 by thecushion member 5". The reduced end B of core 4a, however, although lyingin contact with the cushion member 51, occurs in slightly spacedapartrelation t'o the cushion element 56 as indicated by the -clearance 51a.A second clearance 51h is provided between the sleeve 3 and im'-mediately adjacent surfaces of the arms 42a. Extensions 44 of arms 42a,are bolted to plate 31 and plate 31 as before is spaced slightly abovethe metal parts between and close to the cushion members 4| by aclearance 51c. Disposed transversely through one side of the shaftextension 21h and the arms 42a is shaft I4', which it will be lobservedis arranged in spaced relation to the members 21h by clearance 21e.

The multiple cushioning eiect of these elements may be more fullyunderstood from a consideration of specic shock forces applied thereto.Thus in the case of side sway or horizontally acting forces, the sleeve3 may slide laterally along cushion 5", and the shock is absorbed by theportions C of cushion 51. When exposed to a vertical shock or kick uphowever, sleeve 3 bears downwardly upon cushion 5" and compresses thelatter element against the core member 4a. As the shock develops inintensity, the cushion 5" is compressed to its limit and simultaneouslythe cushion 51 takes up a part of the shock as provided for by theclearance 51a. At this point the sleeve 3 closes the clearance 51h andbegins to bear against the cradle portions of the arms 42a, thus takingup the more extended part of the shock force. This force is transmittedthrough the extensions 44 to the plate 31 and finally absorbed by thecushion members 4| as provided for by the clearances 51e and 21e.

From this arrangement it will be apparent that cushion 4| supplementscushions 5 and 51,

assuming and cushioning the heavier part of the shock load after itsinitial force has been absorbed by cushions 5 and 51. A simil-artransmission of force takes place with reference to recoil shock. h1 thecase of torsional or twisting shocks, the cushion element 4I cooperateswith with both cushion 5" and 51 in a somewhat diierent althoughsupplementary manner. Torsional shock causes sleeve 3' to compresscushion 5" against core 4a to the limit of its elasticity, after vwhicharms V42a through extensions 44 transmit the torsion force to the cover31. This member in turn bears against the cushion 4l in a twistingmovement; consequently lll is compressed against the rigidly held lugs38 and F (Fig. 8). From the foregoing it will be seen that while theuppermost cushions such as 5" and 51 have their special functions,cushion 4l supplements both of them and provides a secondaryshockabsorbing action to forces in all directions.

The construction above described is duplicated at the opposite end ofthe core 4a. In some cases either one only of these cushioning membersmay be found necessary, while in other cases it will be found preferableto use both. Each serves to absorb shock transmitted axially of the corella, and the cushioningr member 51 also absorbs torsional shock orvibration exerted around the axis of said core member.

A similar expedient may also be found desirable in the modificationillustrated in Figs. 9, and l1 to isolate the intermediate pinion I2'from the parts which support it. This pinion is mounted on a shaft Gilwhich is not supported directly in the parts 42h-A2, as in theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 3, but is made consider ably shorterthan is the shaft of the latter construction, and is mounted, as shownin Figs. 16 and 17, in bearing members 6 l-l. These members form theterminals of two brackets 62-62, each including an upright post d risingfrom, and preferably made integral with, the plate 31 supported as shownat 31 in Figs. 3 and 7. Two right-angle sections, each integral with apost d, Fig. 17, extend from the upper ends thereof, respectively, inopposite directions, rst toward opposite ends of the mount, as alsoshown in said figure, and then toward the front and back of the mount,respectively.

Each end of the shaft 6B is supported in one of the members El but it ismounted as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 in a cushioning device verysimilar to that shown in Figs. 14 and 15. That is, it comprises adisk-like member 63 pinned to the shaft and having a Series of lugs orfingers e integr-al therewith and extending axially therefrom. Securedon the shaft ,60 is another member 6G similar to the part 63 and havingngers f extending' in the opposite direction to the fingers e andlocated between them. The two sets of fingers and the two disk-likemembers are spaced apart by an intermediate cushioning member 65 havingparts g located between each of the opposing pairs of fingers andholding them yieldingly spaced circumferentially. This memberadditionally spaces the bodies of the disks 63 and 6ft axially from eachother.

The same construction is used at both ends of the shaft 'E63 and it thusabsorbs shock transmitted through the pinion and shaft.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the invention provides aconstruction in which the training and elevational adjustments of thegun cannot only be made quickly and with a minimum of eort, but inwhich, also, the transmission of shock to the gunner, and to the partswhich he is holding, is so minimised as to greatly reduce the strain onhim.

A further important advantage of the mounts provided by this inventionlies in the `ease and speed with which the gun can be mounted ordismounted. As above pointed out in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, thegun is clamped and released simply by the manipulation of the singlebolt E, Fig. 2. In that form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9, 10and 11, the gun is secured in place by inserting two bolts, one at thefront of the mount where it locks the gun in the socket B8, Fig. 9, andthe other securing it to the bottom plate connection 6l. This ease ofmounting and dismounting is of great advantage on board ship, orwherever a fixed mount is used, because if a machine gun should jam orbecome over-heated, it is simply necessary to replace it with another ofthe same type. This can be done with a minimum loss of time in theconstructions provided by this invention.

Having thus described out invention, what we desire to claim as new is:

1. In a gun mount, the combination `of a gun holder, supporting meansfor said holder including a base, spaced-apart upright side pieceslocated on the base, two sleeves slidably received in the side pieces, acore member extending between the two sleeve members, and presenting ascalloped peripheral surface lying in close proximity to a complementaryscalloped surface formed on the inner periphery of the sleeve members,scalloped cushion members interposed between the said core member andadjacent complementary sleeve surfaces, said core being formed withreduced extremities which project into the side pieces, cushion elementsfor resiliently supporting said extremities in the side pieces, gearmechanism operatively connected to the core for adjusting the positionof the gun mount, a pair of supporting arms arranged at the under sidesof the sleeve members, said arms having secured at their lower sides aplate member, a shaft located centrally of the base member, the saidshaft presenting at its upper extremity a cushion member extending intocontact with the said plate and cooperating with the arms and plate toprovide a shock-absorbing means which supplements the shock-absorbingaction of the first two noted cushion elements.

2. In a gun mount, the combination of a gun holder, supporting means forsaid holder including a base, spaced-apart upright 'side pieces locatedon the base, two sleeves slidably received in the side pieces, a coremember extending between the two sleeves and having reduced end portionswhich extend into and are supported by the side pieces, a pair ofsupporting arms arranged at the under sides of the sleeve members, gearmechanism transversely located through the supporting arms for adjustingthe position of the gun holder, a pair of cushion elements interposedbetween the reduced end portions of the core end and adjacent surfacesof respective side pieces, a second pair of cushion elements locatedbetween the core member and respective adjacent sleeve surfaces, a thirdcushion element arranged in the path of downward movement of thesupporting arms when the said rst and second cushion elements arecompressed by a shock, thereby to `provide a secondary shock absorber.

3. In a gun mount, the combination of a gun holder, supporting means forsaid holder, including a base, spaced-apart upright side pieces locatedin the base, two sleeves `slidably received in the side pieces, a coremember extending between the two sleeves and having reduced end portionswhich project into the side pieces, cushion elements interposed betweenthe sleeves and adjacent core surfaces to absorb a shock applied to thesleeve from the holder, a second pair of cushion elements surroundingthe reduced end portions of the core and adapted to progressively absorb.a shock force transmitted fromthe sleeve to the core, a central uprightshaft mounted in the base, apair of supporting arms extending between?Kthe shaft and sleeve members, gear mechanism located between thesupporting arms for controlling the position of the gun holder, a platemember secured to the arms immediately above the said shaft, a cushionelement mounted between the shaft and plate in a. position so chosenthat it functions as a supplementary shock absorber of forcestransmitted from the core and sleeves to the plate.

SYDNEY T. FARRELL.

FREDERICK L. FARREIL REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Meigs et al Jan. 23, 1906Yoran Oct. 6, 1914 Yost July 11, 1916 Kingston et a1 Aug. 28, 1934Riesing Jan. 19, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1903Switzerland May 16, 1941 France Aug. 7, 1939

